The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. That which in order of Nature seems to have the precedency is the Assent of the Mind unto that which the Psalmist betakes himself unto in the first place for relief, under a sense of sin and trouble, Psal. 130.3, 4. If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand. The Sentence of the Law and Judgment of Conscience lye against him as unto any Acceptation with God. Therefore he despairs in himself, of standing in Judgment, or being acquitted before him. In this state that which the Soul first fixeth on as unto its relief is, that there is forgiveness with God. This as declared in the Gospel, is, that God in his Love and Grace will pardon and justify guilty sinners through the blood and Mediation of Christ▪ So it is proposed, Rom. 3.23, 24. The Assent of the Mind hereunto as proposed in the Promise of the Gospel, is the root of Faith, the foundation of all that the Soul doth in believing. Nor is there any Evangelical Faith without it▪ But yet consider it abstractedly as a mere Act of the Mind, the Essence and Nature of Justifying Faith doth not consist solely therein, though it cannot be without it. But,

2. That which in order of Nature seems to have the precedency is the Assent of the Mind unto that which the Psalmist betakes himself unto in the first place for relief, under a sense of sin and trouble, Psal. 130.3, 4. If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand. The Sentence of the Law and Judgment of Conscience lye against him as unto any Acceptation with God. Therefore he despairs in himself, of standing in Judgment, or being acquitted before him. In this state that which the Soul first fixeth on as unto its relief is, that there is forgiveness with God. This as declared in the Gospel, is, that God in his Love and Grace will pardon and justifie guilty sinners through the blood and Mediation of Christ▪ So it is proposed, Rom. 3.23, 24. The Assent of the Mind hereunto as proposed in the Promise of the Gospel, is the root of Faith, the foundation of all that the Soul doth in believing. Nor is there any Evangelical Faith without it But yet consider it abstractedly as a meer Act of the Mind, the Essence and Nature of Justifying Faith doth not consist solely therein, though it cannot be without it. But,